Assembly, System, and Method for Distributing, Monitoring, and Controlling Electrical Power

ABSTRACT

An assembly, system, and method for receiving, distributing, and monitoring electrical power received from one or more sources is characterized by a residential electrical panel having at least a main bus panel having one or more house load circuit breakers, a main circuit breaker, a meter, and a battery output; a second bus panel having a battery input communicatively connected to the residential electrical panel and one or more critical load circuit breakers; a solar sub panel communicatively connected to the meter; and a monitoring device communicatively connected to the residential panel, the solar sub panel, and the second bus bar.

GOVERNMENT CONTRACT

Not applicable.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 120, this non-provisional patent applicationrelies on the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/583,833,filed May 1, 2017. The content of said application is incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety.

STATEMENT RE. FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

COPYRIGHT & TRADEMARK NOTICES

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document may contain materialwhich is subject to copyright protection. This patent document may showand/or describe matter which is or may become trade dress of the owner.The copyright and trade dress owner has no objection to the facsimilereproduction by any one of the patent document or the patent disclosure,as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files orrecords, but otherwise reserves all copyrights and trade dress rightswhatsoever.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosed subject matter relates generally to electrical panels, andmore particularly, to an electrical panel assembly adapted to receiveand distribute electrical power to and from multiple sources, includingbut not limited to grid, solar, or battery power. In some embodiments,the present invention may comprise an assembly, system and method fordistributing, monitoring, and controlling electrical power.

BACKGROUND

Traditionally, electrical power is generated by utility companies at apower plant and distributed to the location where the electricity isneeded. The power plant as well as the collection of wires,transformers, towers, poles, and so forth required to transmit theelectricity to its destination is collectively sometimes called autility power grid, or “the grid.”

Most power plants generate electrical power through three conversions:by converting potential energy to thermal energy, then thermal energy tomechanical energy, and finally mechanical energy to electrical energythrough a heat engine, a turbine, and an electrical generator,respectively. More specifically, the heat engine burns a fuel to yieldthermal energy, which transforms water into steam. The steam turns theturbine, generating mechanical energy. Then, the mechanical energy isused by the generator to turn a magnet within a loop of wire, producingelectrical energy, or electricity. This electricity is then modified anddistributed to an end user via wiring, transformers, and other elementsof the grid.

The traditional model's heat engine consumes fossil fuels and harms theenvironment in the process. Most commonly the heat engine burns coal,oil, and natural gas, which consumes natural resources and createspollution. In a nuclear power plant, a nuclear reactor generates heat bynuclear fission and produces radioactive waste.

In order to conserve fossil fuels and preserve the environment,engineers and others seek to create electrical power using “sustainable”power sources, or those that do not consume fossil fuels or createharmful byproducts. Most efforts are targeted at the heat engine step,but some (such as solar power) bypass the heat engine step altogether.

Presently, sustainable power sources supply power to the power grid, thehome, and the consumer vehicle. At the power grid level, wind or waterturbines harness the flow of wind and water to turn a turbine. At thehome level, solar power (“solar,” “solar energy,” or “solar power”herein) uses one or more photovoltaic modules to transform light energyinto electricity. Solar power is an increasingly appealing and feasibleoption. Additionally, batteries capable of powering a home for a shorttime (“battery power,” “batteries,” or “battery” herein) use reversibleelectrochemical reactions to store and provide electrical power asneeded, which allows electrical power to be reused, rather than wastedor unnecessarily returned to the grid. At the vehicle level, electricvehicles utilize rechargeable batteries to power cars.

And yet, sustainable power sources have not yet replaced the grid forseveral reasons. For example, the availability of sunshine or wind isunpredictable. Additionally, in many cases an electrical vehicle'srechargeable battery provides far less usable power than a gas or dieselengine.

Therefore, many consumers seek to reduce their consumption of grid powerwhile simultaneously utilizing sustainable power sources. This couldinvolve mindful efforts such as turning off appliances when not in use,or installing power-consumption monitoring devices. An exemplary effortin this regard can be seen in the disclosure of U.S. Pat. No. 8,255,090,incorporated by reference in its entirety herein. Disclosures such asthis provide for careful monitoring of electrical power consumption, aswell as ways to limit such consumption. More specifically, monitoringdevices such as provided in this disclosure connect to a power sourceand a power-consuming device in order to measure, monitor, and ifnecessary alter the power-consuming device's electrical powerconsumption. Unfortunately, this disclosure and others like it sufferfrom one or more shortcomings, such as an inadequate design for thepresent purpose.

Yet, supplementing grid power with sustainable power at the home levelwhile also optimizing the home's electrical power consumption can createsignificant cost and feasibility problems. For example, a wind or waterturbine is prohibitively large and overly expensive for most consumers,and solar power equipment can be large, bulky, and costly.

Additionally, sustainable power sources are associated with significantinstallation costs as well. These costs come in the form of equipment,labor, and time. With respect to equipment costs, solar and batterypower often require independent sub panels, circuit breakers, wiring,and other associated elements. Additionally, both solar and batterypower require power conversion equipment. Solar power produces, andbattery power stores or releases, direct current (DC) electricity.However, most household appliances only utilize alternating current (AC)electricity. To meet this challenge, an inverter is necessary to convertDC electricity to AC electricity. Optimizing such inverters is thereforeof high interest to the solar energy industry. An example of suchoptimization can be seen with respect to the disclosure of U.S. PatentApplication Publication No. 2012/0281444 A1, incorporated by referencein its entirety herein. Even with such an inverter, however, someelectricity-using devices still have difficulty utilizing convertedsolar power electricity.

With respect to labor and time costs, the homeowner has more choices.One option is to engage a professional electrician to install the solaror battery systems and thereby ensure the final installed product issafe. The electrician, however, may charge a high rate for service.Another option, favored by some consumers, is to avoid this cost andinstall solar or battery electrical power systems using the consumer'sown time and resources. What often happens, however, is that the amateurelectrician must often install solar sub panel systems or batterysystems that require the user to manually switch the main residentialpanel to solar or battery power. In other words, while it may save laborcost to install solar or battery by one's self, the ongoing cost in timemakes the process consistently burdensome.

What is needed is an assembly, system, and method that distributes,monitors, and controls electrical power to and from one or more homes byproviding for 1) a plurality of interconnected solar, grid, and batteryelectrical power systems and sources, 2) a monitoring device thatconnects these systems and sources and that automates, monitors, andmanages the home(s)' electrical power usage, and 3) a configuration thatlowers labor costs and delivers an aesthetically pleasing visual effect.

Some other proposals for such an assembly, system, and/or method havebeen made. One example is U.S. Pat. No. 8,700,224 to Mathiowetz, thedisclosure of which is incorporated in its entirety by reference herein.This disclosure generally provides for a single-point plug in systemthat utilizes a Meter Jumper Plug and a Meter Jumper Panel to accept anddistribute electricity from extra-grid sources such as solar power intoan existing main service panel at a home or small business. While thisdisclosure does provide for several advantageous features, such as IPnetworking capabilities that can turn individual appliances on or offand that can manage overall demand for electricity during peak demandperiods, this disclosure unfortunately discloses an unwieldy retrofitinstallation process wherein the original electric meter must be removedand a Meter Jumper Plug installed in its place.

Another attempt can be seen with respect to U.S. Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2010/0264739 A1 filed by Errington, the disclosure ofwhich is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein. Thisdisclosure generally provides for a modular power management system thatmay be wall mounted and configured to allow a homeowner to plug in andmanage various electrical power sources via a backplane that accepts theelectrical power source connection and a main system microprocessor thatmanages and distributes the electrical power. While this disclosure doesgenerally provide for a modular and adaptive electrical power managementsystem that monitors electrical usage, it lacks a turnkey installationapproach and generally lacks the ability to effectively optimize powerusage from a remote location.

Yet another attempt can be seen with respect to U.S. Pat. No. 8,350,697to Trundle et al., the disclosure of which is incorporated by referencein its entirety herein. This disclosure generally provides for a “smart”home electricity usage monitoring system that detects the presence ofoccupants who might use an appliance or other item powered byelectricity, as well as records and optimizes the appliance or otheritem's overall electricity usage. This disclosure also generallyprovides for remote on/off functionality for individual items based onthe home's electricity usage. While this disclosure generally providesfor electrical optimization, it fails to provide for energy usageallotments based on contributions from alternative energy sources.

As such, these disclosures and others like them fail to provide for thebeneficial characteristics described in the following disclosure. Thus,there remains a need for an assembly, system and method that providesfor distributing, monitoring and controlling electrical power.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure is directed to an assembly, system and method fordistributing, monitoring and controlling electrical power, in additionto other properties.

For purposes of summarizing, certain aspects, advantages, and novelfeatures have been described. It is to be understood that not all suchadvantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particularembodiment. Thus, the disclosed subject matter may be embodied orcarried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage orgroup of advantages without achieving all advantages as may be taught orsuggested.

In certain embodiments, the assembly comprises a residential electricalpanel in communicative contact with one or more of a proprietarymonitoring device, a solar sub panel, a battery and an electric vehiclecharging station. It is contemplated that in some embodiments, theelements comprising the present invention may be installed over the spanof one installation period. In other embodiments, it is contemplatedthat the various elements comprising the present invention may beinstalled as needed or at different times. In some embodiments, it iscontemplated that the various elements comprising the present inventionmay be installed as part of new construction. In some embodiments, it iscontemplated that the various elements comprising the present inventionmay be installed as a retrofit.

In some embodiments, the present invention may provide for a residentialelectrical panel that may comprise a main circuit breaker, a meter and amain bus bar having one or more house load circuit breakers.Additionally, in some embodiments, the residential electrical panel mayfurther comprise one or more neutral portions, one or more groundportions, and a battery output terminal.

In some embodiments, the present invention may also provide for a solarsub panel. In turn, the solar sub panel may provide for one or moresolar bus bars, one or more solar inverters, and one or more solarcircuit breakers fixed to or within the solar bur bar, as well as ameter dedicated to the solar subpanel. The solar sub panel may beconnected to a second bus bar, which may provide for one or morecritical load centers and one or more critical load breakers.

The present invention may also provide for one or more batteries. Invarious embodiments, a range of batteries may be provided that store andrelease electrical power. The batteries contemplated may range frombatteries capable of only powering a portion of the home for a smallamount of time to batteries capable of powering an entire home for anextended period of time. In some embodiments, the battery may beconnected to the main bus bar via a battery output wire and to thesecond bus bar via a battery input wire.

In some embodiments, the present invention may also provide for anelectric vehicle charging station. It is contemplated that the electricvehicle charging station may be wired into the main bus bar.Additionally, in some embodiments, one or more circuit breakers on themain bus bar may be dedicated to the electric vehicle charging station.

In some embodiments, the present invention may also provide for amonitoring device that may be configured to perform at least the tasksof measuring energy consumption, controlling home energy usage, andcoordinating or controlling the home's electrical supply systems. Insome embodiments, the monitoring device may be connected to theinternet, a user interface affixed to a home, one or more mobiledevices, one or more energy management systems, one or more EPCEs, andone or more elements of the present invention. Such connections may bewired, wireless, constant, periodic, on-demand, encrypted, unencrypted,stored in a temporary data storage element, not stored in a permanentdata storage element, stored in a permanent data storage element, or notstored in a permanent data storage element, or take any form or aspectknown in the pertinent art.

In order to measure home energy consumption, the monitoring device maymonitor, record, and evaluate the manner in which a home's electricalpower-consuming elements (“EPCEs”) utilize electrical power. In sodoing, in some embodiments, the monitoring device may evaluate one ormore factors such as by way of illustration and not limitation, one ormore EPCEs' load(s) consumption. In some embodiments, the monitoringdevice may compare such information against standards such as the EPCE'spast use or the average use for an equivalent EPCE in a particular area.In some embodiments, the monitoring device may determine which EPCEs areover-using or under-using electrical power. In some embodiments, themonitoring device may also generate warnings, to either a user or athird party, or both, if the monitoring device determines that the EPCEis over-using or under-using electrical power.

In order to control home energy usage, the monitoring device may controlone or more aspects of a home's electrical power supply and usage. Byway of illustration and not limitation, the monitoring device maycontrol which source or mix of sources of electrical power (grid, solar,battery, or electric vehicle) is used at a given time to power one ormore EPCEs or the home. Also, the monitoring device may control whichbreakers may conduct electrical power at a given time, such as houseload circuit breakers, critical load circuit breakers, or both. As well,the monitoring device may begin, speed up, slow down, or ceaseelectrical power supply to one or more EPCEs. Furthermore, themonitoring device, through any communication medium known in the artwhether wired or wireless, may begin, speed up, slow down, or cease oneor more EPCEs' electrical power usage. It is also contemplated that themonitoring device may be configured to accomplish any aspect ofelectrical-power-based home automation known to those of skill in theart.

In some embodiments, the monitoring device may change or initiate theelectrical power usage of a home or one or more EPCEs in response to aschedule, a condition, or instructions. For example, with respect toscheduled changes, the monitoring device may cause changes to a home'sEPCEs based on time of day. In such an example, the monitoring devicemay cause certain EPCEs such as an air conditioner to consume electricalpower differently at night than during the day. Or, the monitoringdevice may cause grid power to flow to one or more solar photovoltaicmodules to initiate their startup, then cease the flow of grid poweronce the solar photovoltaic modules begin generating electricity. Withrespect to conditional changes, for example in the condition of a poweroutage, the monitoring device may cause electrical power to flow from abattery through the critical load circuits only. Or in the condition ofa high electricity usage for the month, the monitoring device may causeEPCEs to consume less electrical power or be active for shorter periodsof time. With respect to changes in response to instructions, themonitoring device may receive instructions from a user, a third party,the internet, or a computer program to change the electrical powerconsumption or supply of a home or one or more EPCEs. For example, viaeither a mounted interface or one or more user devices, such as a mobilephone, smartphone, tablet, or personal computer, a user may cause themonitoring device to switch an EPCE or the home from grid power to solarpower. Additionally, in some embodiments, utility companies,neighborhood associations, other users' monitoring devices, governmentagencies, or other third parties may communicate directly with themonitoring device to cause changes to a home or an EPCE's electricalpower consumption and/or supply. In some embodiments, the monitoringdevice may implement these instructions immediately, on a delay,according to a schedule, or in response to a condition or activatingcircumstance. By controlling one or more, or all, aspects of a home'selectrical supply and usage, in some embodiments the monitoring devicemay provide users with partial or total home automation.

Remaining with the monitoring device, in some embodiments the monitoringdevice may also coordinate the home's electrical supply systems. In someembodiments, the present invention may interface with processors thatmay be connected to an electrical battery, a solar power system, or anelectrical vehicle. In some embodiments, the monitor may also interfacewith the grid or a neighborhood electrical power system. For example, itis contemplated that should more than one home in a community implementthe present invention, the present invention may provide that in certainsituations, such as an emergency, the users may share electrical powerbetween the houses as needed. Additionally, the monitoring device mayinterface with additional or aftermarket elements installed by ahomeowner, such as an additional battery or photovoltaic modules notpart of the present invention. In such a circumstance, the monitoringdevice may enable those other systems to feed into or otherwise workwith the present invention.

In some embodiments, the elements of the present invention may beconfigured so as to align closely and neatly. The elements of thepresent invention may also be configured to enable quick and easyinstallation. The monitor may be configured to measure energyconsumption, control home energy usage, and coordinate or control thehome's electrical supply systems. As such, it is an object of thepresent invention to solve user problems associated with aesthetics,installation, energy monitoring, energy consumption, and electricalsupply device management.

Additionally, the present invention may provide for one or more smallcurrency transformers, as well as “smart” breakers, or individual“smart” elements that may patch into or otherwise work with the presentinvention. It is therefore contemplated that the present invention mayincorporate other electrical panel elements that may be known to thoseof skill in the art both at present and in the future.

In some embodiments, the present invention may provide for an assemblycomprising a residential electrical panel comprising a utilityconnection, which may be electrically connected to a meter, which may beelectrically connected to a main circuit breaker, which may beelectrically connected to a main bus bar, which may be electricallyconnected to at least one house load circuit breaker, and a batteryoutput terminal that may be electrically connected to the main bus bar.The assembly may also provide for a solar sub panel comprising a solarbus bar and at least one solar circuit breaker that may be electricallyconnected to the solar bus bar, a second bus bar that may beelectrically connected to the meter, as well as at least one criticalload circuit breaker that may be electrically connected to the secondbus bar, a battery input terminal that may be electrically connected tothe second bus bar, a battery electrically connected to the batteryinput terminal and the battery output terminal, and a monitoring devicethat may be electrically connected to the main bus bar, the main circuitbreaker, the solar bus bar, the meter, the second bus bar, and thebattery. In some embodiments, the assembly may further comprise anelectric vehicle charging station that may be connected to the main busbar. In some embodiments, the at least one house load circuit breakermay be dedicated to the electric vehicle charging station. Additionally,in some embodiments, the second bus panel may be configured as acritical load center. In some embodiments, the assembly may furthercomprise at least one solar inverter connected to the solar sub panel.In some embodiments, the assembly may further comprise at least onephotovoltaic module connected to the solar sub panel.

In some embodiments, the present invention may provide for a system fordistributing, monitoring, and controlling electrical power, comprisingan electrical device operable to monitor electrical power usage datacaptured by at least one measuring element that measure attributesrelevant to electrical power usage by at least one electrical powerconsuming element, determine an electrical power usage profile for theat least one electrical power consuming element, monitor the status ofat least one solar power source, at least one utility power source, andat least one battery power source, if necessary, control at least onebehaviors of the at least one solar power source, the at least oneutility power source, and the at least one battery power source,determine, based on the electrical power usage profile and the status ofthe at least one solar power source, the at least one utility powersource, and the at least one battery power source, a ratio of electricalpower to be distributed from the at least one solar power source, the atleast one utility power source, and the at least one battery powersource to the at least one electrical power consuming elements, anddistribute electrical power to the at least one electrical powerconsuming element according to the ratio. Additionally, the electricaldevice may be operative to determine, based on the proper electricalpower usage of the at least one electrical power consuming element, anamount of excess electrical power, determine at least one electricalpower destination based on the status of the at least one utility powersource, and the at least one battery power source, wherein the at leastone of the at least one utility power source, and the at least onebattery power source may be an electrical power destination, draw theexcess electrical power from the at least one electrical power consumingelement, an distribute the excess electrical power to the at least oneelectrical power destination.

The present invention may also provide for a method for distributing,monitoring, and controlling electrical power, comprising providing aresidential electrical panel comprising a utility connection, theutility connection electrically connected to a meter, the meterelectrically connected to a main circuit breaker, the main circuitbreaker electrically connected to a main bus bar, the main bus barelectrically connected to at least one house load circuit breakers, anda battery output terminal electrically connected to the main bus bar,providing a solar sub panel comprising a solar bus bar and at least onesolar circuit breaker electrically connected to the solar bus bar,providing a second bus bar electrically connected to the meter,providing at least one critical load circuit breaker electricallyconnected to the second bus bar, providing a battery input terminalelectrically connected to the second bus bar, providing a battery, thebattery electrically connected to the battery input terminal and thebattery output terminal, and providing a monitoring device, themonitoring device electrically connected to the main bus bar, the maincircuit breaker, the solar bus bar, the meter, the second bus bar, andthe battery. In some embodiments, the method may further comprise thesteps of connecting, using at least one wire, the utility connection,the meter, the main circuit breaker, the main bus bar, the at least onehouse load circuit breaker, the battery output terminal, the solar busbar, the at least one solar circuit breaker, the at least one criticalload circuit breaker, the battery input terminal, the battery, and themonitoring device.

The present disclosure may refer to a “house” or a “home.” It is to beunderstood that these terms are herein intended to encompass anystructure or object capable of practicing the present invention, such asby way of illustration and not limitation, an office building, astadium, a car, or even, in some embodiments, a portable device.

Additionally, the present disclosure may refer to one or more electricalpower-consuming elements (“EPCEs”). This term and others like it areherein intended to encompass any object capable of using or conductingelectricity or electrical power, such as by way of illustration and notlimitation, fixtures, appliances, outlets, items connected to wallsocket wiring, lights, air conditioning units, heaters, or electronics.

Further, the present disclosure may refer to “monitor” or “monitoring.”This term and others like it are herein intended to encompass theactivities of tracking, measuring, recording, analyzing, evaluating,observing, and any similar or related activity.

Also, the present disclosure may refer to elements other than themonitoring device having one or more “control” or “controlling”functions. In such an instance, “control” or “controlling” as usedherein may mean, at least, causing an element to undertake or refrainfrom undertaking an action. In some circumstances, this definition mayapply to the monitoring device as well.

As used in the claims and in the specification, the term “activity” mayherein mean, at least, the production, reception, conduction, orretention of electricity; actions such as powering on or off; as well asreporting, monitoring, measuring, or controlling functions. “Activity”may also refer to, by way of illustration and not limitation, a solarsub panel controlling the behavior of a photovoltaic panel orphotovoltaic cell, a circuit breaker being turned on or off, or anyother activity disclosed or implied herein in association with anyelement of the present invention.

Furthermore, terms such as “communicatively connected” or“communicatively coupled” and other terms used to describe connectionsbetween elements disclosed herein are to be understood as, at least,permitting the flow of electricity along the connection.

One or more of the above-disclosed embodiments, in addition to certainalternatives, are provided in further detail below with reference to theattached figures. The disclosed subject matter is not, however, limitedto any particular embodiment disclosed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a plan view of an embodiment of an assembly fordistributing, monitoring, and controlling electrical power received fromone or more sources in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 shows a flowchart indicating an embodiment of a system fordistributing, monitoring, and controlling electrical power received fromone or more sources in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart depicting an exemplary embodiment of a method fordistributing, monitoring, and controlling electrical power received fromone or more sources in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

For simplicity and clarity of illustration, the drawing figuresillustrate the general manner of construction, and descriptions anddetails of well-known features and techniques may be omitted to avoidunnecessarily obscuring the invention. Additionally, elements in thedrawing figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, thedimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggeratedrelative to other elements to help improve understanding of embodimentsof the present invention. The same reference numerals in differentfigures denote the same elements.

The terms “first,” “second,” “third,” “fourth,” and the like in thedescription and in the claims, if any, are used for distinguishingbetween similar elements and not necessarily for describing a particularsequential or chronological order. It is to be understood that the termsso used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such thatthe embodiments described herein are, for example, capable of operationin sequences other than those illustrated or otherwise described herein.Furthermore, the terms “include,” and “have,” and any variationsthereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that aprocess, method, system, article, device, or assembly that comprises alist of elements is not necessarily limited to those elements, but mayinclude other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process,method, system, article, device, or assembly.

The terms “couple,” “coupled,” “couples,” “coupling,” and the likeshould be broadly understood and refer to connecting two or moreelements or signals, electrically, mechanically or otherwise. Two ormore electrical elements may be electrically coupled, but notmechanically or otherwise coupled; two or more mechanical elements maybe mechanically coupled, but not electrically or otherwise coupled; twoor more electrical elements may be mechanically coupled, but notelectrically or otherwise coupled. Coupling (whether mechanical,electrical, or otherwise) may be for any length of time, e.g., permanentor semi-permanent or only for an instant.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Having summarized various aspects of the present disclosure, referencewill now be made in detail to that which is illustrated in the drawings.While the disclosure will be described in connection with thesedrawings, there is no intent to limit it to the embodiment orembodiments disclosed herein. Rather, the intent is to cover allalternatives, modifications and equivalents included within the spiritand scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the assembly forreceiving, distributing, and monitoring electrical power received fromone or more sources, wherein the embodiment may comprise residentialpanel 100, utility wires 101, utility connection 102, meter 103, maincircuit breaker 104, neutral portion 105, main bus bar 106, house loadcircuit breakers 107, ground portion 108, battery input 110, batteryoutput 111, second bus bar 112, critical load circuit breakers 113,monitoring device 114, solar sub panel 116, solar bus bar 117, solarcircuit breakers 118, solar connection wires 119, battery 120, andelectrical vehicle charging station (not pictured) which may beconnected to one or more of house load circuit breakers 107.

In the embodiment depicted, various elements of the present inventionare shown in one of many different configurations. It is contemplatedthat in some embodiments, the physical arrangement or configurations ofone or more elements of the present invention may be positioneddifferently from the arrangement generally disclosed in FIG. 1.

As generally disclosed in FIG. 1, the present invention may distribute,monitor, and control electrical power from multiple sources. In oneembodiment, electrical power from the grid may travel through utilitywires 101 and utility connection 102, pass through meter 103, and bereceived at main circuit breaker 104. If main circuit breaker 104 is inthe on position, electrical power may flow to monitoring device 114 andthen main bus bar 106. From main bus bar 106, electrical power may flowthrough one or more house load circuit breakers 107 in the on positionto the appropriate location in the house. Additionally, electrical powermay flow to or from main bus bar 106 to second bus bar 112. If one ormore critical load circuit breakers 113 are in the on position, powermay then flow into the appropriate location in the house.

Continuing with FIG. 1, in some embodiments electrical power may bereceived by one or more photovoltaic modules or other form ofphotoelectric energy capture, and transmitted via solar connection wires119 to solar circuit breakers 118, which may be located on solar bus bar117, which may in turn be located within solar sub panel 116. In someembodiments, solar circuit breakers 118 may correspond to one or morebranch circuits or one or more inverters. If one or more solar circuitbreakers 118 are in the on position, electrical power may flow to thecorresponding branch circuit or inverter and then into main circuitbreaker 104, followed by monitoring device 114, main bus bar 106, one ormore house load circuit breakers 107 in the on position, then to theappropriate location in the house.

Remaining with FIG. 1, in some embodiments the present invention mayalso provide for battery 120. In these embodiments, electrical power mayflow from main bus bar 106 to battery 120 via battery output 111. Powermay then flow from battery 120 to second bus bar 112 via battery input110. If one or more critical load circuit breakers 113 are in the onposition, electrical power may then flow from second bus bar 112 to mainbus bar 106 via either battery input 110 or battery output 111. Frommain bus bar 106, electrical power may flow to monitoring device 114,back to main bus bar 106, then through house load circuit breakers 107and into the house. In some embodiments, battery 120 may be connected toone or more electric vehicle charging stations.

Additionally, FIG. 1 also discloses monitoring device 114. In someembodiments, monitoring device 107 may be communicatively connected withone or more elements of the present invention, including utility wires101, utility connection 102, meter 103, main circuit breaker 104,neutral portion 105, main bus bar 106, house load circuit breakers 107,ground portion 108, battery input 110, battery output 111, second busbar 112, critical load circuit breakers 113, monitoring device 114, asolar sub panel 116, solar bus bar 117, solar circuit breakers 118,solar connection wires 119, and battery 120. In some embodiments, it iscontemplated that elements communicatively coupled to the monitoringdevice 107 may further comprise one or more jumpers defining a conduitconfigured to carry electrical power between the main bus bar 106 andsecond bus bar 112 and vice versa.

Continuing with FIG. 1, monitoring device 114 may, among otherfunctions, measure home energy consumption, control home energy usage,and coordinate or control, or both, the home's electrical supplysystems. In some embodiments, monitoring device 114 may create ordetermine an electrical power usage profile for one or more EPCEs,wherein either an optimal, an ideal, an average, an adjusted, orotherwise determined level or manner of electrical power usage isascertained in part or in whole. In some embodiments, monitoring device114 may act as a hub to solar sub panel 116, grid 104, battery 120, andresidential panel 100. It is contemplated that one or more series ofconnections may enable such a hub functionality, such as by way ofillustration and not limitation, at least one connection betweenmonitoring device 114 and solar power via solar sub panel 116; gridpower via main circuit breaker 104; battery 120 via second bus bar 112;and residential panel 100, and consequently the house, via main bus bar106.

Monitoring device 114 may measure home energy consumption using theseconnections, or one or more other connections between monitoring device114 and any other element of the present invention. In some embodiments,monitoring device 114 may also or alternatively monitor electrical poweruse via direct communicative connection with one or more EPCEs, orthrough main circuit breaker 104, house load circuit breakers 107,critical load circuit breakers 113, or solar circuit breakers 118.

Monitoring device 114, in some embodiments, may also control a home'senergy usage. As a hub to solar sub panel 116, the grid via main circuitbreaker 104, battery 120 via second bus bar 112, and the house via mainbus bar 106, monitoring device 114 may determine which source ofelectrical power (grid, solar, battery, or electric vehicle) is used ata given time.

In order to measure home energy consumption, the monitoring device 114may monitor, record, and evaluate the manner in which electrical poweris utilized by various EPCEs (not pictured). In some embodiments,monitoring device 114 may compare an EPCE's electrical power usageagainst standards such as the EPCE's past use or the average use for anequivalent EPCE in a particular area. In some embodiments, monitoringdevice 114 may determine which EPCEs are over-using or under-usingelectrical power. In some embodiments, monitoring device 114 may alsogenerate warnings, to either a user or a third party, or both, ifmonitoring device 114 determines that the EPCE is over-using electricalpower.

In order to control home energy usage, in some embodiments, monitoringdevice 114 may determine which source of electrical power (grid, solar,battery, or electric vehicle) is used at a given time to power the home.Such a choice may be made in advance, in response to one or moreactivated settings, or in response to a user or third party's input. Ifin advance, monitoring device 114 may utilize instructions orinformation derived from a user or the internet to schedule certainenergy consumption choices, such as by way of illustration and notlimitation, when to use battery, solar, or grid electrical power topower the home. By way of illustration and not limitation, monitoringdevice 114 may use grid (AC) power to start or run the photovoltaicmodules (not pictured), which may power the home's usage for the day,and any excess power may be stored in battery 120. Then at night,monitoring device 114 may determine that battery 120 may provideelectrical power to some or all of the home. If in response to one ormore activated settings, the present invention may provide that certainevents cause monitoring device 114 to engage one or more actions. Forexample, monitoring device 114 may be programmed to implement certainusage patterns in the event of a power outage, such as powering onlyEPCEs connected to critical load circuit breakers 113 or drawing powerfrom battery 120 or an electrical vehicle via house load circuitbreakers 107 or main circuit breaker 104 as applicable, if necessary.Monitoring device 114 may continue to make changes as more informationor more triggering events take place. If in response to instructions orinformation derived from a user or the internet, monitoring device 114may make immediately-implemented energy consumption choices, such as byway of illustration and not limitation, whether to use battery, solar,or grid electrical power to power the home or an EPCE. It iscontemplated that either a user, a third party, or a program may causemonitoring device 114 to alter the flow, storage, or consumption ofelectrical power by entering instructions into a software application,or a physical interface such as a wall-mounted touchscreen, traditionalthermostat, or “smart” thermostat (none pictured).

Additionally, in addition to controlling which power source is used topower the entire home, in some embodiments monitoring device 114 maymodify the electrical power supply to one or more individual EPCEs, suchas for example causing the electrical power supply to one or more EPCEsto slow down or cut off. In some embodiments, monitoring device 114 mayinterface with an EPCE directly via house load circuit breakers 107,causing the EPCE to reduce, cease, or enlarge its electrical powerusage. In some embodiments, such determinations may be made in advanceaccording to a schedule. For example, monitoring device 114 may cause anEPCE such as an air conditioner, via either house load circuit breakers107 or critical load circuit breakers 113 as applicable, to operate lessfrequently at night. In some embodiments, such determinations may bemade according to settings that may be activated by an event. Monitoringdevice 114, in some embodiments, may continue to make adjustments asmore triggering events are reported to monitoring device 114. Forexample, in the event of a power outage, the present invention'smonitoring device 114 may cause battery 120, via either house loadcircuit breakers 107 or critical load circuit breakers 113 asapplicable, to power an EPCE such as a refrigerator or a main bedroom'slights, and when the outage is over may cause full power to return tothe home via grid power as provided through residential panel 100 andits associated elements. In some embodiments, such determinations may bemade per instructions that may be inputted into monitoring device 114 orother element of the present invention by a user, a third party, orboth. By way of illustration and not limitation, the present inventionmay provide for one or more interfaces wherein a user may cause themonitoring device 114 to run a home or an EPCE according to a particularschedule, or the utility grid may communicate with monitoring device 114and cause monitoring device 114 to cease using utility power.

In order to coordinate or control a home's electrical supply systems, insome embodiments monitoring device 114 may interface with the differentprocessors associated with an electrical battery, a solar power system,or an electrical vehicle. By way of illustration and not limitation,such processors may be associated with the present invention'sresidential panel 100, battery 120, solar sub panel 116, or electricvehicle charging station (not pictured). In some embodiments, inaddition to or in the alternative, monitoring device 114 may communicatewith electrical power systems attached to or in communication with thepresent invention or elements of the present invention. In someembodiments, monitoring device 114 may also interface with the grid or aneighborhood electrical power system. For example, it is contemplatedthat should more than one home in a community implement the presentinvention, the present invention may provide that in certain situations,such as an emergency, the users may share electrical power between thehouses as needed. Additionally, monitoring device 114 may interface withadditional or aftermarket elements installed by a homeowner, such as anadditional battery or photovoltaic modules not part of the presentinvention. In such a circumstance, monitoring device 114 may enablethose other systems to feed into or otherwise work with the presentinvention.

In some embodiments, the present invention may also provide for a solarsub panel 116. In turn, the solar sub panel 116 may provide for at leastone solar bus bar 117, one or more solar inverters (not pictured), andone or more solar circuit breakers 118 fixed to or within the solar busbar 117, as well as solar connection wires 119. The solar sub panel 116may also be connected to a second bus bar 112, which may provide for oneor more critical load breakers 113. Solar sub panel 116 may also beconnected to battery 120 through second bus bar 112, or any otherconnection capable of supporting a connection between solar sub panel116 and battery 120. It is contemplated that, in some embodiments, solarcircuit breakers 118 may be used only for solar loads. In someembodiments, it is also contemplated that solar circuit breakers 118 maybe used for additional or alternate loads than solar loads.

The present invention may also provide for at least one battery 120. Invarious embodiments, several different types of battery 120 may beprovided that store and release electrical power to the home, thephotovoltaic modules or solar sub panel 116, or to an electrical vehiclevia house load circuit breakers 107 or main circuit breaker 104 asapplicable. In some embodiments, battery 120 may be capable of onlypowering a portion of the home for a small amount of time, or capableonly of turning on an element, such as a photovoltaic modules. In someembodiments, battery 120 may be capable of powering one or more entirehomes for an extended period of time. It is contemplated that battery120 may be any battery capable of storing and/or releasing electricalpower in conjunction with the other elements of the present invention.In some embodiments, battery 120 may be connected to main bus bar 106via battery output 111 and to second bus bar 112 via battery input 110.In some embodiments, battery 120 may provide AC current to the house orphotovoltaic modules (not pictured) or the solar sub panel 116 when gridAC power is not available.

In some embodiments, the present invention may also provide for anelectric vehicle charging station (not pictured). It is contemplatedthat the electric vehicle charging station may be wired into the mainbus bar 106. Additionally, in some embodiments, one or more house loadcircuit breakers 107 on main bus bar 106 may be dedicated to theelectric vehicle charging station. In some embodiments, one or more maincircuit breaker 104 elements may be dedicated to the electric vehiclecharging station. Through its connection to main bus bar 106, it iscontemplated that electric vehicle charging station may receive ordonate electrical power to or from the other elements of the presentinvention, including but not limited to solar, grid, or battery power.In some embodiments, monitoring device 114 may determine if and whenelectric vehicle charging station either receives or donates electricalpower to or from the other elements of the present invention. By way ofillustration and not limitation, one such situation could be whereinduring an extended power outage, if battery 120 is drained, monitoringdevice 114 may draw power from, or cause another element of the presentinvention to draw power from, an electric vehicle via an electricvehicle charging station.

In certain embodiments, monitoring device 114 may provide for a displaywherein a user may interface with monitoring device 114 and either learndata provided by monitoring device 114, actively control one or morefeatures or functionalities of monitoring device 114, or both. In someembodiments, a user may remotely access monitoring device 114, to learndata as provided by monitoring device 114, actively control one or morefeatures or functionalities of monitoring device 114, or both. In someembodiments, monitoring device 114 may automatically take certainactions as determined by either the programming of monitoring device 114or by inputted instructions from a user, such actions including by wayof illustration and not limitation, turning certain EPCEs on or off, orturning certain EPCE functions on or off.

In some embodiments, a user may interact with or control monitoringdevice 114 using one or more user devices via a smartphone, computer,tablet, watch, or any other device capable of interfacing with thepresent invention, via wireless, wired, Bluetooth, internet, or anyother such form of communication between devices. Additionally,monitoring device 114 may also have a reporting function, whereinmonitoring device 114 may send periodic updates of electrical usage toone or more users, or to a governmental agency, or to any receivingparty appropriate for such communications.

Turning attention to FIG. 2, an illustrative flowchart generallydisclosing an embodiment of a system for distributing, monitoring, andcontrolling electrical power the present invention is shown. In theembodiment depicted, electrical power may flow in each direction betweenthe elements of monitoring device 114, utility 202 (grid), solar 203,battery 120, and electric vehicle & electric vehicle charging station205. In some embodiments, monitoring device 114 may determine whatsource of electrical power, or mix of sources of electrical power, mayflow through main bus bar 106 and into house 207.

With respect to utility 202, electrical power may come from the grid,then feed into and be analyzed by the monitoring device 114, after whichthe electrical power may be passed on to main bus bar 106 and house 207.

With respect to solar 203, electrical power may be captured atphotovoltaic modules or other photoelectric elements, then feed into andbe analyzed by the monitoring device 114, after which the electricalpower may be passed on to main bus bar 106 and house 207.

With respect to battery 120, electrical power may be stored in battery120, then feed into main bus bar 106, whereupon the electrical power maypass to and be analyzed by the monitoring device 114, after which theelectrical power may be passed back to main bus bar 106 and then house207.

With respect to electric vehicle & electric vehicle charging station205, electrical power may be stored in electric vehicle & electricvehicle charging station 205, then feed into main bus bar 106, whereuponthe electrical power may pass to and be analyzed by the monitoringdevice 114, after which the electrical power may be passed back to mainbus bar 106 and then house 207. In some embodiments, with respect toelectric vehicle & electric vehicle charging station 205, electricalpower may be stored in or drawn from a battery connected to an electricvehicle, a battery connected to an electric vehicle charging station, orboth.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart depicting one of many potential embodiments of amethod for distributing, monitoring, and controlling electrical powerreceived from one or more sources. The method shown in FIG. 3, includesat least the steps of: remotely or directly accessing the presentinvention's monitoring system 301, selecting an electrical powerconsuming element (EPCE) 302, identifying EPCE electrical power usagedata 303, identifying one or more power sources supplying electricalpower to the EPCE 304, determining whether to adjust EPCE electricalpower usage 305, determining whether to adjust the electrical powersource(s) serving the EPCE 306, adjusting EPCE electrical power usageand/or sources supplying electrical power to EPCE 307, repeating theabove steps for all other EPCEs, as necessary 308.

It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments are merelyexamples of possible implementations. Many variations and modificationsmay be made to the above-described embodiments without departing fromthe principles of the present disclosure. All such modifications andvariations are intended to be included herein within the scope of thisdisclosure and protected by the following claims.

Moreover, embodiments and limitations disclosed herein are not dedicatedto the public under the doctrine of dedication if the embodiments and/orlimitations: (1) are not expressly claimed in the claims; and (2) are orare potentially equivalents of express elements and/or limitations inthe claims under the doctrine of equivalents.

CONCLUSIONS, RAMIFICATION, AND SCOPE

While certain embodiments of the invention have been illustrated anddescribed, various modifications are contemplated and can be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.Accordingly, it is intended that the invention not be limited, except asby the appended claim(s).

The teachings disclosed herein may be applied to other systems, and maynot necessarily be limited to any described herein. The elements andacts of the various embodiments described above can be combined toprovide further embodiments. All of the above patents and applicationsand other references, including any that may be listed in accompanyingfiling papers, are incorporated herein by reference. Aspects of theinvention can be modified, if necessary, to employ the systems,functions and concepts of the various references described above toprovide yet further embodiments of the invention.

Particular terminology used when describing certain features or aspectsof the invention should not be taken to imply that the terminology isbeing refined herein to be restricted to any specific characteristics,features, or aspects of the assembly, system and method fordistributing, monitoring, and controlling electrical power with whichthat terminology is associated. In general, the terms used in thefollowing claims should not be constructed to limit the assembly, systemand method for distributing, monitoring, and controlling electricalpower to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification unlessthe above description section explicitly define such terms. Accordingly,the actual scope encompasses not only the disclosed embodiments, butalso all equivalent ways of practicing or implementing the disclosedassembly, system and method for distributing, monitoring, andcontrolling electrical power. The above description of embodiments ofassembly, system and method for distributing, monitoring, andcontrolling electrical power is not intended to be exhaustive or limitedto the precise form disclosed above or to a particular field of usage.

While specific embodiments of, and examples for, an assembly, system andmethod for distributing, monitoring, and controlling electrical powerare described above for illustrative purposes, various equivalentmodifications are possible for which those skilled in the relevant artwill recognize.

While certain aspects of an assembly, system and method fordistributing, monitoring, and controlling electrical power are presentedbelow in particular claim forms, various aspects of the assembly, systemand method for distributing, monitoring, and controlling electricalpower are contemplated in any number of claim forms. Thus, the inventorreserves the right to add additional claims after filing the applicationto pursue such additional claim forms for other aspects of the assembly,system and method for distributing, monitoring, and controllingelectrical power.

What is claimed is:
 1. An assembly, comprising: at least one utility power panel comprising at least one utility connection; at least one meter communicatively coupled to the utility connection; at least one main circuit breaker communicatively coupled to the at least one meter; at least one main bus bar communicatively coupled to the main circuit breaker; at least one house load circuit breaker communicatively coupled to the main bus bar; at least one electrical power consuming element communicatively coupled to the main bus bar, and at least one battery output terminal communicatively coupled to the at least one main bus bar; and at least one sub panel, comprising: at least one additional bus bar; at least one circuit breaker communicatively coupled to the at least one additional bus bar; at least one critical load circuit breaker communicatively coupled to the at least one additional bus bar; at least one monitoring device configured to transmit any of energy consumption measurements, home energy usage measurements, and data defining home energy usage over the internet to one or more mobile electronic devices, the at least one monitoring device communicatively coupled to the at least one main bus bar, the at least one main circuit breaker, the at least one additional bus bar, the at least one the meter.
 2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the monitoring device is configured to monitor and control the electrical power usage of the at least one electrical power consuming element.
 3. An assembly, comprising: at least one utility power panel comprising at least one utility connection; at least one meter communicatively coupled to the utility connection; at least one main circuit breaker communicatively coupled to the at least one meter; at least one main bus bar communicatively coupled to the main circuit breaker; at least one house load circuit breaker communicatively coupled to the main bus bar; at least one electrical power consuming element communicatively coupled to the main bus bar; and at least one battery output terminal communicatively coupled to the at least one main bus bar; at least one solar sub panel, comprising: at least one solar bus bar; at least one solar circuit breaker communicatively coupled to the at least one solar bus bar; at least one critical load circuit breaker communicatively coupled to the at least one second bus bar; at least one battery input terminal communicatively coupled to the at least one second bus bar; at least one monitoring device, the at least one monitoring device communicatively coupled to the at least one main bus bar, the at least one main circuit breaker, the at least one solar bus bar, the at least one meter and the at least one second bus bar.
 4. The assembly of claim 3, wherein the at least one second bus panel is configured as a critical load center.
 5. The assembly of claim 3, further comprising at least one solar inverter connected to the at least one solar sub panel.
 6. The assembly of claim 3, further comprising at least one photovoltaic module connected to the at least one solar sub panel.
 7. The assembly of claim 3, wherein the monitoring device is configured to monitor and control one or more activities of the at least one utility power panel and one or more activities of the at least one solar sub panel.
 8. The assembly of claim 3, wherein the monitoring device is configured to monitor and control the electrical power consumption by the at least one electrical power consuming element.
 9. The assembly of claim 3, wherein the monitoring device is configured to monitor and control the supply of electrical power to the at least one electrical power consuming element, wherein the supply of electrical power is comprised of electrical power supplied by the utility power panel, electrical power supplied by the solar sub panel, or a mixture of both electrical power supplied by the utility power panel and electrical power supplied by the solar sub panel.
 10. The assembly of claim 3, wherein the monitoring device is configured to monitor and control the electrical power distribution between the utility power panel and the solar sub panel. 